{"id":9906,"date":"2019-02-12T12:55:16","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T11:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/?p=9906"},"modified":"2021-10-11T09:25:31","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T07:25:31","slug":"tag-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/2019\/02\/tag-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Tag Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

A tag question is a positive or negative sentence that is immediately followed by a short question. It is used when asking for confirmation. It means something similar to: “Is that right?” or “Do you agree?” Keep in mind that the tag takes on the form of auxiliary or main verb be<\/em> from the main sentence and is changed to either negative or positive.<\/p>\n

For simple past and present, do, does, <\/em>and did<\/em> are used in the tag.<\/p>\n

POSITIVE STATEMENT TAG QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Positive Statement\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Negative Tag<\/strong><\/p>\n

He is English,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 isn\u2019t he?<\/p>\n

He is English, isn\u2019t he?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Positive Statement<\/strong><\/td>\nNegative Tag<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Subject<\/strong><\/td>\nAuxiliary<\/strong><\/td>\nMain Verb<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nAuxiliary<\/strong><\/td>\nNot<\/strong><\/td>\nPersonal Pronoun Same as Subject<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You<\/td>\nare<\/td>\n <\/td>\nexhausted,<\/td>\nare<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nyou?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We<\/td>\nhave<\/td>\nprepared,<\/td>\nenough<\/td>\nhave<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nwe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You<\/td>\ndo<\/td>\nhate<\/td>\nmachines,<\/td>\ndo<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nyou?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You<\/td>\n <\/td>\nlove<\/td>\npuppies,<\/td>\ndo<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nyou?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They<\/td>\nwill<\/td>\nskip<\/td>\nlunch<\/td>\nwo<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nthey?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I<\/td>\ncan<\/td>\nsing<\/td>\nat your party,<\/td>\ncan<\/td>\n‘t<\/td>\nI?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We<\/td>\nmust<\/td>\nsleep<\/td>\nearly tonight,<\/td>\nmust<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nwe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She<\/td>\nshould<\/td>\nwork<\/td>\na lot harder,<\/td>\nshould<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nshe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You<\/td>\n <\/td>\nare<\/td>\na microbiologist,<\/td>\nare<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nyou?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kimberly<\/td>\n <\/td>\nwas<\/td>\nthere,<\/td>\nwas<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nshe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEGATIVE STATEMENT TAG QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Negative Statement\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Positive Tag<\/strong><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t work here, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 do you?<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t work here, do you?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Negative Statement<\/strong><\/td>\nPositive Tag<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Subject<\/strong><\/td>\nAuxiliary<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nMain Verb<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nAuxiliary<\/strong><\/td>\nPersonal Pronoun Same as Subject<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
It<\/td>\nis<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nsnowing,<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\nis<\/td>\nit?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We<\/td>\nhave<\/td>\nnever<\/td>\ndone<\/td>\n <\/td>\nthis,<\/td>\nhave<\/td>\nwe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You<\/td>\ndo<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nlike<\/td>\n <\/td>\nthe food,<\/td>\ndo<\/td>\nyou?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They<\/td>\nwill<\/td>\nnot<\/td>\nattend<\/td>\n <\/td>\nmy wedding,<\/td>\nwill<\/td>\nthey?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They<\/td>\nwo<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\ntell<\/td>\n <\/td>\nhim,<\/td>\nwill<\/td>\nthey?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I<\/td>\ncan<\/td>\nnever<\/td>\nlearn<\/td>\n <\/td>\nhow to sing,<\/td>\ncan<\/td>\nI?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We<\/td>\nmust<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\neat<\/td>\n <\/td>\nall the food,<\/td>\nmust<\/td>\nwe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
She<\/td>\nshould<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\ncry<\/td>\n <\/td>\nso loud,<\/td>\nshould<\/td>\nshe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You<\/td>\nwo<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nbe<\/td>\n <\/td>\nabsent,<\/td>\nwill<\/td>\nyou?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\nare<\/td>\nn’t<\/td>\nMexican,<\/td>\nare<\/td>\nyou?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pete<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\nwas<\/td>\nnot<\/td>\nhappy,<\/td>\nwas<\/td>\nhe?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>ANSWERING TAG QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A tag question is answerable by yes or no. To answer, simply repeat the tag and reverse it.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/p>\n

Tag Question: The sun revolves around the earth, doesn’t it?<\/p>\n

Answer: Yes, it does.<\/p>\n

The meanings of yes<\/em> and no <\/em>when responding to a negative sentence:<\/p>\n

Question: You\u2019re not attending the meeting this afternoon, are you?<\/p>\n

Answers:<\/p>\n

Yes.<\/strong> \u2013 Yes, I am attending<\/p>\n

No.<\/strong> \u2013 No, I am not attending.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tag Question<\/strong><\/td>\nCorrect Answer<\/strong><\/td>\nNotes<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
It’s cold in here, isn’t it.<\/td>\nYes, it is.<\/td>\nIf it is really cold<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
It’s cold in here, isn’t it.<\/td>\nNo, it isn\u2019t.<\/td>\nIf it is not cold<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cows can\u2019t fly, can they?<\/td>\nNo, they can\u2019t.<\/td>\nCows cannot fly.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The earth isn\u2019t oblate spheroid, is it?<\/td>\nYes, it is!<\/td>\nThe earth\u2019s shape is oblate spheroid. The answer expresses disagreement to the statement.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Animals can speak, can\u2019t they?<\/td>\nNo, they can\u2019t.<\/td>\nTo disagree and when something is not true, the whole form of the tag (with pronoun and verb) are used.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

INTONATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a tag question, the meaning is implied by the way it is said.<\/p>\n

Using rising intonation denotes that it is an actual question. Meanwhile, using falling intonation means it is not a real question but a mere invitation for the listener to agree to what the speaker is saying.<\/p>\n

SOME EXCEPTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • The tag for Let\u2019s <\/em>is shall we.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Example: Let\u2019s<\/em> begin the ceremony, shall we<\/em>?<\/p>\n

      \n
    • The tag for imperatives is will you<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Example: Give<\/em> that to me, will you<\/em>?<\/p>\n

        \n
      • The negative tag for I\u2019m<\/em> is aren\u2019t I<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Example: I\u2019m<\/em> one of your best friends, aren\u2019t I?<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        A tag question is a positive or negative sentence that is immediately followed by a short question. It is used when asking for confirmation. It means something similar to: “Is that right?” or “Do you agree?” Keep in mind that the tag takes on the form of auxiliary or main verb be from the main […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[309],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-grammar"],"yoast_head":"\nTag Questions | phone english blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/2019\/02\/tag-questions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tag Questions | phone english blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A tag question is a positive or negative sentence that is immediately followed by a short question. 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